Category Archives: Genetic Engineering

Today, Unravel Biosciences and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University announced that Unravel has licensed a drug discovery platform technology from Harvard and Tufts University. The company will use the technology, invented at the Wyss Institute, to decode and model complex diseases to accelerate the development of new and more effective therapies.

Harvards Office of Technology Development is providing an exclusive, worldwide license to Unravel for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of certain neurodevelopmental disorders using new and existing drugs developed with the platform.

The company is validating the technology by developing an effective therapy for Rett syndrome, a rare genetic disease that mostly affects girls and causes progressive loss of motor and language skills, seizures, and intellectual disabilities. By combining predictive algorithms, a high-throughput tadpole-based screening system, and an iterative discovery process, Unravel is taking a patient-centric approach to identify drugs that can restore health, first in Rett syndrome and later in other cognitive and behavioral disorders.

Unravels approach flips the traditional drug development process on its head. For the past 50 years, most pharmaceutical companies have started by identifying a molecular target of interest and then developed drugs to disrupt that target. But 90% of the drugs created via this process dont work in patients. In contrast, we start with an individual patient and ask, What is different about this patient thats causing this disease? We computationally predict which existing drugs could restore health in that patient, validate those drugs in our engineered animal models and focused clinical trials, and from there identify the underlying molecular targets that could be drugged to treat the disease across patient populations, said Richard Novak, Ph.D., a former Lead Staff Engineer at the Wyss Institute who is now CEO and co-founder of Unravel.

From DARPA project to Validation Project

The roots of the platform technology licensed by Unravel stretch back to 2015, when Novak and other members of the Wyss Institute led by Founding Director Don Ingber, M.D., Ph.D. started working on a DARPA-funded research project to identify drugs that could induce human tolerance to sepsis and other forms of infection. To figure out whether their candidate drugs might have any unexpected side effects on the brain, the team developed a cognitive assay and behavioral screening system using Xenopus laevis frog tadpoles in collaboration with Wyss Associate Faculty member Mike Levin, Ph.D.

Xenopus embryos are an amazingly tractable and powerful system for exploring the full stack of biology: from genes, to physiology, to anatomy, to behavior. The whole brain and nervous system forms in front of your eyes in a week! I was really excited about collaborating to use automated assays in this exquisite little animal to impact human medicine, said Levin, who is also the Vannevar Bush Chair of the Department of Biology and Director of the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University.

The scientists quickly realized that their system, called CogniXense, could be used to evaluate the effects of a wide range of drugs on the cognitive and behavioral systems of a whole organism. This would allow them to identify drugs that can restore complex mental abilities that are often impaired in neurological diseases, a metric that is important to patients but difficult to measure in standard preclinical models.

A team was formed to develop CogniXense for that purpose. Shortly thereafter, the system highly impressed a visitor to the Wyss Institute, who had a daughter with a rare genetic disease that was classified as a form of Rett syndrome. This condition, which causes debilitating physical and mental problems in the ~10,000 patients who are born with it every year, has no cure or treatment.

Ingber suggested to Novak that CogniXense could be used to identify drugs to treat Rett syndrome, and the team got to work building a Xenopus model of the disease. In their first test, they found that their model replicated behavioral differences observed between healthy patients and those with Rett syndrome. They also identified several drugs that reversed the tadpoles symptoms. Based on this potential, the team was awarded Validation Project funding from the Wyss Institute in 2018 and 2019 to further de-risk and develop CogniXense into a high-throughput and automated drug discovery platform.

CogniXense consists of three main parts. The first is NeMoCAD, a computational algorithm that analyzes the transcriptome network features of existing drugs to predict which ones are most likely to reverse the features of a given disease. Second, Xenopus tadpoles are genetically modified using CRISPR to replicate the genetic signature of the disease and the resulting spectrum of behavioral and cognitive features in as little as three weeks. Finally, the modified tadpoles are placed into a screening instrument called the TadPool, which allows real-time non-invasive analysis of more than 1,000 swimming tadpoles simultaneously.

The TadPool evaluates each tadpoles decision-making skills, ability to learn, swimming patterns, and circadian rhythms to produce a multidimensional picture of their behavior. Comparing these behaviors with and without a given drug indicates whether the drug effectively reverses the features of the disease. Drug screening results then feed back into NeMoCAD in an iterative process to identify drug targets that underlie successful treatment, which can be used to develop even more effective new drugs.

Components of the CogniXense platform are being further developed at the Wyss Institute, and are being used in its Biostasis and CircaVent projects.

Treat the patient, treat the disease

Based on CogniXenses success in the lab, Unravel was launched to commercialize the technology. The company has customized it to create their proprietary BioNAV platform, which incorporates transcriptome and proteome data from patients.

By using real patient data, we ensure that our predictive algorithms actually identify drugs that can treat a disease in a person who suffers from it. When we repeat this process for multiple patients across the spectrum of neurologic diseases and look at that combined information, we can pinpoint drugs that will work for certain groups of patients regardless of their formal clinical diagnosis or genetic mutations. So, were applying a personalized medicine approach across conditions that were previously considered independent of each other to identify effective treatments for the more than 15,000 patients who suffer from rare diseases, said Frederic Vigneault, Ph.D., a former Senior Staff Scientist at the Wyss Institute who is now the CSO and co-founder of Unravel. And, if no existing drugs can effectively treat a particular population, we use our platform to design new ones.

In July 2022, Unravel announced a partnership with TMA Precision Health (TMA) to leverage TMAs database of patients with rare diseases in regions across the globe that have historically been underrepresented in medical research. The companies are aiming to use this patient access to bring Unravels first drug candidate, a proprietary oral liquid formulation for the treatment of Rett Syndrome, to clinical trials by the end of 2022.

Unravel plans to pursue multiple rare disorders in parallel, building on the rapid clinical translation of their Rett syndrome program. The company is partnering with academic and industry groups to use patient transcriptome data to redefine how rare diseases are treated and enable effective therapies to reach patients in need more quickly.

You hear a lot about how artificial intelligence is going to impact drug discovery, but examples of success are few and far between. I am extremely proud of this team for their ability to collaborate across disciplines and to develop this powerful first-of-its-kind drug discovery platform that combines computation with experimentation in an iterative way that is absolutely critical for clinical success, as well as their determination to spin it out into a company as quickly as possible to maximize its impact. Unravel is a perfect example of how pursuit of academic innovation with an entrepreneurial mindset can lead to development of disruptive technologies that can change the world for the better, said Ingber, [BL1]who is also the Judah Folkman Professor of Vascular Biology at Harvard Medical School and Boston Childrens Hospital, and the Hansjrg Wyss Professor of Bioinspired Engineering at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

News article

Animals

Here is the original post:
Unravel Biosciences licenses Wyss Institute platform technology from Harvard and Tufts University to decode, model, and treat complex diseases -...

Novavax Makes One Million Doses of Nuvaxovid Available for Use in the United Kingdom

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Sept. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercializing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, today announcedthat an initial one million doses of Nuvaxovid (NVX-CoV2373)COVID-19 vaccine are now available for use in the United Kingdom (U.K.). Nuvaxovid is the first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine granted authorization from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and will be offered per the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice.

"With U.K. data showing that people infected with both COVID-19 and the flu are more than five times as likely to die compared to someone with no infection1, it is more important than ever to consider any vaccine offered to you by the National Health Service," said Stanley C. Erck, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax. "We continue to believe in the importance of a diversified national vaccine portfolio to reduce winter pressures on the health service."

Nuvaxovid was created using Novavax' recombinant nanoparticle technology to generate antigen derived from the coronavirus spike protein and is formulated with Novavax' patented saponin-based Matrix-M adjuvant to enhance the immune response. Nuvaxovid contains purified protein antigen and can neither replicate, nor can it cause COVID-19.

The MHRA granted Conditional Marketing Authorization (CMA) for Nuvaxovid's use as a two-dose primary series vaccine for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in adults aged 18 and olderin February 2022,and in adolescents aged 12 through 17 in August 2022. Novavax submitted a request to the MHRA for expanded CMA of Nuvaxovid as a booster in adults aged 18 and older on June 1, 2022 and is awaiting a decision from the agency.

This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. If you are concerned about an adverse event, it should be reported on a Yellow Card. Reporting forms and information can be found at https://coronavirus-yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. When reporting please include the vaccine brand and batch/Lot number if available.

Trade Name in the U.S. The trade name Nuvaxovid has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Important Safety Information: UK

For more information on Nuvaxovid, including the Summary of Product Characteristics with Package Leaflet, adverse event reporting instructions, or to request additional information, please visit the following websites:

About Nuvaxovid (NVX-CoV2373)Nuvaxovid (NVX-CoV2373) is a protein-based vaccine engineered from the genetic sequence of the first strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease. The vaccine was created using Novavax' recombinant nanoparticle technology to generate antigen derived from the coronavirus spike (S) protein and is formulated with Novavax' patented saponin-based Matrix-M adjuvant to enhance the immune response and stimulate high levels of neutralizing antibodies. Nuvaxovid contains purified protein antigen and can neither replicate, nor can it cause COVID-19.

Nuvaxovid is packaged as a ready-to-use liquid formulation in a vial containing ten doses. The vaccination regimen calls for two 0.5 ml doses (5 mcg antigen and 50 mcg Matrix-M adjuvant) given intramuscularly 21 days apart. The vaccine is stored at 2- 8 Celsius, enabling the use of existing vaccine supply and cold chain channels. Use of the vaccine should be in accordance with official recommendations.

Novavax has established partnerships for the manufacture, commercialization, and distribution of Nuvaxovid worldwide. Existing authorizations leverage Novavax' manufacturing partnership with Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by volume. They will later be supplemented with data from additional manufacturing sites throughout Novavax' global supply chain.

About the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine (NVX-CoV2373) Phase 3 Trials The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine (NVX-CoV2373) continues being evaluated in two pivotal Phase 3 trials.

PREVENT-19 (thePRE-fusion protein subunitVaccineEfficacyNovavaxTrial | COVID-19) is a 2:1 randomized, placebo-controlled, observer-blinded trial to evaluate the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine with Matrix-M adjuvant in 29,960 participants 18 years of age and over in 119 locations inthe U.S.andMexico. The primary endpoint for PREVENT-19 was the first occurrence of PCR-confirmed symptomatic (mild, moderate or severe) COVID-19 with onset at least seven days after the second dose in serologically negative (to SARS-CoV-2) adult participants at baseline. The statistical success criterion included a lower bound of 95% CI >30%. A secondary endpoint was the prevention of PCR-confirmed, symptomatic moderate or severe COVID-19. Both endpoints were assessed at least seven days after the second study vaccination in volunteers who had not been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. In the trial, the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine achieved 90.4% efficacy overall. It was generally well-tolerated and elicited a robust antibody response after the second dose in both studies. Full results of the trial were published in theNew England Journal of Medicine(NEJM).

The pediatric expansion of PREVENT-19 is a 2:1 randomized, placebo-controlled, observer-blinded trial to evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and efficacy of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine with Matrix-M adjuvant in 2,247 adolescent participants 12 to 17 years of age in 73 locations in the United States, compared with placebo. In the pediatric trial, the vaccine achieved its primary effectiveness endpoint (non-inferiority of the neutralizing antibody response compared to young adult participants 18 through 25 years of age from PREVENT-19) and demonstrated 80% efficacy overall at a time when the Delta variant of concern was the predominant circulating strain in the U.S.Additionally, immune responses were about two-to-three-fold higher in adolescents than in adults against all variants studied.

Additionally, a trial conducted in the U.K. with 14,039 participants aged 18 years and over was designed as a randomized, placebo-controlled, observer-blinded study and achieved overall efficacy of 89.7%. The primary endpoint was based on the first occurrence of PCR-confirmed symptomatic (mild, moderate or severe) COVID-19 with onset at least seven days after the second study vaccination in serologically negative (to SARS-CoV-2) adult participants at baseline. Full results of the trial were published inNEJM.

About Matrix-M AdjuvantNovavax' patented saponin-based Matrix-M adjuvant has demonstrated a potent and well-tolerated effect by stimulating the entry of antigen-presenting cells into the injection site and enhancing antigen presentation in local lymph nodes, boosting immune response.

About NovavaxNovavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) is a biotechnology company that promotes improved health globally through the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative vaccines to prevent serious infectious diseases. The company's proprietary recombinant technology platform harnesses the power and speed of genetic engineering to efficiently produce highly immunogenic nanoparticles designed to address urgent global health needs. The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, has received authorization from multiple regulatory authorities globally, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Commission, and the WHO. The vaccine is currently under review by multiple regulatory agencies worldwide, including for additional indications and populations such as adolescents and as a booster. In addition to its COVID-19 vaccine, Novavax is also currently evaluating its COVID-19-Influenza Combination vaccine candidate in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, its quadrivalent influenza investigational vaccine candidate, and an Omicron strain-based vaccine (NVX-CoV2515) as well as a bivalent format Omicron-based / original strain-based vaccine. These vaccine candidates incorporate Novavax' proprietary saponin-based Matrix-M adjuvant to enhance the immune response and stimulate high levels of neutralizing antibodies.

For more information, visit http://www.novavax.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking StatementsStatements herein relating to the future of Novavax, its operating plans and prospects, the ongoing development of NVX-CoV2373, NVX-CoV2515 and bivalent Omicron-based / original strain based vaccine, a COVID-seasonal influenza combination investigational vaccine candidate, its quadrivalent influenza investigational vaccine candidate,Novavax' plans to supplement existing authorizations with data from the additional manufacturing sites in Novavax' global supply chain,the scope, timing and outcome of future regulatory filings and actions, including potential recommendations and authorizations from the MHRA, JCVI or any other regulatory authority, additional worldwide authorizations of NVX-CoV2373 for use in adults and adolescents, and as a booster, the potential impact and reach of Novavax and NVX-CoV2373 in addressing vaccine access, controlling the pandemic and protecting populations, the efficacy, safety intended utilization, and the expected administration of NVX-CoV2373 are forward-looking statements. Novavax cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, challenges satisfying, alone or together with partners, various safety, efficacy, and product characterization requirements, including those related to process qualification and assay validation, necessary to satisfy applicable regulatory authorities; unanticipated challenges or delays in conducting clinical trials; difficulty obtaining scarce raw materials and supplies; resource constraints, including human capital and manufacturing capacity, on the ability of Novavax to pursue planned regulatory pathways; challenges meeting contractual requirements under agreements with multiple commercial, governmental, and other entities; the emergence of variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that may negatively impact market acceptance or anticipated sales of NVX-CoV-2373; and those other risk factors identified in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of Novavax' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this statement. You are encouraged to read our filings with the SEC, available at http://www.sec.gov and http://www.novavax.com, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this statement speak only as of the date of this document, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of the statements. Our business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those referenced above. Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties.

References

Contacts:

InvestorsErika Schultz | 240-268-2022ir@novavax.com

MediaAli Chartan or Giovanna Chandler | 202-709-5563 media@novavax.com

SOURCE Novavax, Inc.

Read the original post:
Novavax Makes One Million Doses of Nuvaxovid Available for Use in the United Kingdom - Novavax Investor Relations

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, US An article published Sept. 1 in Science details a new way to regulate genetically engineered (GE) crops. The specific new characteristics of a GE crop could determine whether it needs to be tested for safety, according to the researchers from North Carolina State University in Raleigh. This approach could be more effective than focusing on the methods and processes behind the creation of the crop.

Genomics could be used to scan new crop varieties for unexpected DNA changes, an action that would be similar to how biomedical sciences use genomic approaches to scan human genomes for problematic mutations. If the new crop has new characteristics that potentially could cause health or environmental effects, or if the crop has differences that cannot be interpreted, safety testing would be recommended.

The approaches used right now, which differ among governments, lack scientific rigor, said Fred Gould, PhD, a professor at North Carolina State University and co-director of the universitys Genetic Engineering and Society Center. The size of the change made to a product and the origin of the DNA have little relationship with the results of that change. Changing one base pair of DNA in a crop with 2.5 billion base pairs, like corn, can make a substantial difference.

The article recommends establishing an international committee of crop breeders, chemists and molecular biologists to establish the options and costs of this approach for a variety of crops. National and international governing bodies could sponsor the committee as well as workshops and research.

Read more from the original source:
Researchers suggest new method to test GE crops - World Grain

When Queen Elizabeth was crowned in 1953, she promised to rule for her whole life.

It was a commitment that never waivered and saw her on the throne for more than 70 years, over which time the world changed significantly.

During her reign, the Queen saw some of the most groundbreaking moments in human history within her seven decades of service; from wars and a pandemic, to technological developments and scientific breakthroughs.

Here, we breakdown some of the most significant events that Queen Elizabeth II witnessed during her legendary time as our monarch.

There were an abundance of scientific breakthroughs during the Queens service, and in just her second year, scientists Francis Crick and James Watson published an article that claimed they had discovered what they called the secret of life.

From the University of Cambridge, the pair along with other researchers worked together to identify the now famous double helix structure aka the deoxyribonucleic molecule, also known as DNA.

This gave rise to modern molecular biology, and helped to produce new and powerful scientific techniques, specifically DNA research, genetic engineering, rapid gene sequencing, and the mapping of the human genome.

Major advances in science, including genetic fingerprinting and modern forensics, owe thanks to this discovery.

British Crick was later awarded the Queens Medal, for his contribution to science.

Shortly after, came the first organ transplant, a huge moment in medical history. The first successful operation a kidney transplant was performed by Dr Joseph Murray in Boston, Massachusetts.

The technique has since saved over 400,000 lives worldwide, with more than 3,000 kidney transplants are now carried out in the UK each year.

During the 70 years of The Queens reign, the world of highways and transportation changed significantly, with cars becoming accessible to the majority of the British population. Alongside this, the road network grew and motorways came into being.

The M6, now Britains longest motorway, was first opened in December of 1958, originally an eight mile section of road, acting as a high speed bypass around the town of Preston, Lancashire.

At the point of its inception, it had just two lanes in each direction, no safety barrier in the central reservation and no other technology. Prime Minister Harold Macmillan oversaw theopening, making the beginning of road travel in the UK more accessible than it had ever been before.

The Queen has been witness to many huge moments for womens reproductive rights and the contraceptive pill is an important one.

Considered one of the most significant medical advances of the 20th century, the contraceptive pill a combination of the hormones oestrogen and progestin was developed in the US in the 1950s by the American biologist Dr Gregory Pincus. It was later released in 1960, and within two years it was being used by 1.2million women.

The pill was introduced in the UK the following year, but initially was only available for married women. However, this changed in 1967 and the pill is now taken by over 3.1million women in the UK.

As later dramatised in Season Two of The Crown, the Queen first met President Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy at a reception hosted at Buckingham Palace in June 1961.

In an event that shook the world, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, in 1963.

The Queen sent condolences and later invited Jacqueline Kennedy to Britain for the unveiling of the British national JFK memorial in Runnymede.

Although the Queen may have been more associated with sports like horse racing and polo, one of the most iconic photographs in British sporting history showed HRH, wearing a mustard coat and hat and long white gloves, shaking the hand of Sir Bobby Moore the England captain who led the team to victory in the 1966 World Cup.

The four-nil victory over West Germany on 30 July 1966 has still never been beaten, or equalled.

Last year, ahead of the England teams Euros final, the Queen released a statement, wishing them good luck ahead of their appearance at Wembley and reflecting on the importance of that landmark victory.

She said: Fifty-five years ago I was fortunate to present the World Cup to Bobby Moore and saw what it meant to the players, management and support staff to reach and win the final of a major international football tournament.

In 1967, the British parliament passed the Sexual Offences Act, legalising homosexual acts if they were consensual, in private, and between individuals who were at least 21 years old in England and Wales.

It was considered a landmark event for gay rights although a far cry from equality and liberation. Scotland didnt follow suit until 1980 and Northern Ireland until 1982.

It wasnt until 2004, that the Civil Partnership Act allowed same-sex couples to legally enter into same-sex unions, and it would be another 10 years before same-sex marriage was legalised in Scotland, England and Wales.

In another landmark event, the 1967 the Abortion Act was passed, which legalised abortion on certain grounds by registered practitioners.

The Queen gave her royal assent to both laws.

In 1969, NASA astronaut and aeronautical engineer Neil Armstrong became the first ever man to walk on the moon, duringApollo 11. Armstrong also flew on NASAs Gemini 8 mission in 1966.

For obvious reasons, this was a groundbreaking moment for humanity a giant leap for mankind, you might even say.

After his mission, the Queen met with Armstrong and his wife, who traveled to Buckingham Palace, as part of a world tour to meet global leaders and mark their successful mission.

The first mobile phone call was made on April 3, 1973, by Motorola employee Martin Cooper.

Using a prototype of what would become the Motorola DynaTAC 8000x, Cooper reportedly stood near a 900 MHz base station on Sixth Avenue, between 53rd and 54th Streets, in New York City and placed a call to New Jersey.

The mobile phone would go on to change the world as we know it, particularly with the introduction of the smartphone the first of which, the IBM Simon and Nokia Communicator 9000, were released in 1994 and 1996 respectively

The Queen reportedly used a Samsung featuring anti-hacker encryption by MI6. According to royal commentator, Jonathan Sacerdoti, she would mainly speak on her mobile phone to two people her daughter, Princess Anne and her racing manager, John Warren.

A year after the Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee, following 25 years on the throne, a new groundbreaking reproductive moment was recorded; and on July 25 1978, the worlds first IVF baby was born.

Louise Brown was born at Royal Oldham Hospital, Lancashire, after the so-called test tube procedure was developed by English physiologist Robert Edwards, in collaboration with two other scientists.

In 2010, Edwards won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and a year later he was knighted by the Queen.

Margaret Thatcher was Britains first ever female prime minister, and served three consecutive terms in office, from 1979-1990.

During the period of Thatcherism in the 1980s, the Queen met with the prime minister weekly. They were, however, said to have a complicated relationship.

The Queen reportedly disagreed with some of Thatchers policies, including her refusal to impose sanctions on apartheid South Africa, according to a 1986 report in the Sunday Times.

But they did work together for over a decade, with the Queen later awarding Thatcher the prestigious Order of Merit.

Queen Elizabeth has been head of state during a time of profound technological advancement. And theres not much that has changed the state of the world more than the advent of the Internet.

No one person invented the Internet it occurred over a number of years, developed by a variety of scientists and engineers who initially brought their research together to create what was known as the ARPANET, the precursor to the World Wide Web.

And the Queen was more tech-enthusiastic than you might imagine. In fact, in 1976 she became the first monarch and one of the first ever people to ever send an email, during the early development stages of ARPANET, when visiting the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment in Malvern.

It wasnt until 1989 that scientist Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web. In 2003, over 20 years after it was first born, nearly half of the UK residents had access to the Internet.

On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall dividing East Germany and West Germany was dismantled by protesters, after a five-day gathering opposing the oppressive division.

The bringing down of the wall marked the end of the Cold War, and signified the fall of the iron curtain and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The Queen, of course, had her own part to play in the historic moments leading up to the end of the Cold War. Years of diplomacy had been crucial as had the Queens role in warming diplomatic relations between the UK and the Soviet Union.

In fact, just seven months before the Berlin Wall started to be dismantled before it finally fell for good in 1991 The Queen had hosted Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, on a diplomatic visit to Windsor Castle.

The Queen gave her official royal assent to The Maastricht Treaty, first signed in 1992 officially establishing the European Union, that came into force in 1993.

There were originally 12 member countries, including the United Kingdom and the EU evolved out of the European Economic Community (EEC), which partly aimed to prevent conflict after World War II.

The Queen had always appeared to be pro-Europe, in an uncontentious manner, and was, of course, still head of state when the UK vote at referendum to leave its place in the EU in June 2016.

In 2018, she commented to the king and queen of the Netherlands that Britain was looking toward a new partnership with Europe and added that shared values between Britain and Europe are our greatest asset.

Dolly the Sheep was the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell, and a procedure that led to widespread advancement with stem cell research.

Dolly was created and lived her life at the Roslin Institute in Scotland. One of the lead researchers, Ian Wilmut, received the Order of the British Empire from the Queen in 1999, and was knighted in 2008.

The cloned mammal produced several lambs during her lifetime, and was put to sleep after contracting a progressive lung disease, said to be unrelated to her cloning.

The Good Friday Agreement was signed on April 10, 1998, and marked the end of most of the violence related to The Troubles.

Citizens of both the Republican of Ireland and Northern Ireland voted in a referendum to approve the agreement.

The day after part of the measures went into effect, in 1999, Irish President, Mary McAleese, had lunch with the Queen in Buckingham Palace.

In 1997, the Scottish population voted for devolution with 74% of votes cast in favour, and a turnout of 60%.

Previous proposals for a Scottish Parliament had fallen at a referendum in 1979, as although a majority of Scottish voters had backed the plans, the required threshold of 40% registration of voters was not met.

This marked a period of significant change for the UK and the Queen officially opened the parliament, on 1 July 1999, giving the assembly law making powers.

Elizabeth has since spoken about the deep and abiding affection she and her late husband, Prince Philip, shared for Scotland.

On the morning of 11 September 2001, 19 Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger planes in the United States.

We are all familiar with what happened next it was an event that rocked the entire world.

Following the attacks, the Queen paid her own special tribute to the Americans living and working in Britain, as well as those who had been personally affected.

For the first time in its history, the military band were authorised to play the American national anthem during the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, for the gathered crowds.

On November 4, 2008, Barack Obama defeatedJohn McCain of become the 44th U.S. president, and the first African American elected to the White House, a momentous event for the US and the world.

Since the Queens passing, the Obamas have made a heartfelt tribute, stating that they were grateful to witness her reign and dedicated leadership.

The former president said: Michelle and I were lucky enough to come to know Her Majesty, and she meant a great deal to us, adding that she welcomed us to the world stage with open arms and extraordinary generosity.

The worlds attention was focused on Britain in 2012 with the Queens Diamond Jubilee taking place that summer, as well as the London Olympics which the UK was hosting for the third time.

The Queens appeared in a video played at the Games opening ceremony with co-star James Bond, which saw her skydiving into the Olympic Stadium before he declared the event to be open.

In 2016, citizens of the United Kingdom voted to take their nation out of the European Union.

The referendum saw David Cameron resign as prime minister, and Theresa May take over the position.

After years of negotiations, the UK finally withdrew, on January 21, 2020.

The Queen gave her royal assent to the bill that triggered the U.K.s withdrawal a monumental moment in the countrys history.

Nobody could have foreseen the chaos that the outbreak of Covid-19 in the UK would bring and the knock on impact of it dominated much of the Queens final years, personally and professionally.

The lockdowns announced as a result saw the Queen broadcast only her fifth message to the nation, in her 70 year reign.

Other than her Christmas speech, she has only given a speech of this gravity during occasions including the beginning of the first Gulf War and the death of Princess Diana.

During her speech, the Queen reassured the nation with the heartfelt words: We should take comfort that, while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.

MORE : Tiny portions and ice-cold drinks: Royal butler reveals special memories of time with the Queen

MORE : King Charles IIIs historic proclamation speech in full

MORE : Princess Beatrice will take on new role following death of the Queen

Read the original:
24 groundbreaking events that happened during the Queen's reign - Metro.co.uk

A newly developed antibody that increases the activation of TREM2a receptor on microgliareduces amyloid burden and alleviates cognitive decline in mice exhibiting Alzheimers disease (AD) pathology. These findings indicate that the antibody, Ab18 TVD-Ig/aTfR, may have promise as a treatment for the disease.

The work was led by Zhiqiang An, PhD, professor at McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and Ningyan Zhang, PhD, professor at the Texas Therapeutics Institute at the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine. Their team published their work in Science Translational Medicine in an article entitled, A tetravalent TREM2 agonistic antibody reduced amyloid pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimers disease.

Alzheimers disease, which is characterized by the loss of memory and thinking skills, affects more than 10% of the elderly population. Amyloid-beta oligomers and plaques in the parenchyma of the brain are pathological hallmarks of the disease.

Microglia in the brain play crucial roles in amyloid-beta pathology. TREM2, a receptor expressed by microglia, regulates the migration of microglia toward and phagocytosis of amyloid-beta oligomers and plaques.

The research team postulated that increasing TREM2 activation on the microglia would enhance these effects. They identified an antibody that could accomplish this task and then engineered it to enhance its potency and brain penetrance.

Here, we identified a TREM2 agonist monoclonal Ab (Ab18) by panning a phage-displayed single-chain variable fragment Ab library, they wrote.

By engineering the bivalent immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) to tetra-variable domain immunoglobulin (TVD-Ig), we further increased the TREM2 activation by 100-fold, they continued. An engineered bispecific Ab targeting TREM2 and transferrin receptor (TfR; Ab18 TVD-Ig/aTfR) improved Ab brain entry by more than 10-fold with a broad parenchyma distribution.

An attributed their success to the resources and expertise of his collaborators. One of the major areas of focus at the Texas Therapeutics Institute is developing technologies to deliver antibody-based therapies across the blood-brain barrier for potential treatment of the disease, he said.

The researchers then treated a mouse model of Alzheimers disease with the engineered antibody. Weekly treatment of 5XFAD mice (a model of AD) with Ab18 TVD-Ig/aTfR showed a considerable reduction of amyloid burden with increased microglia migration to and phagocytosis of amyloid plaques, improved synaptic and neuronal marker intensity, improved cognitive functions, reduced endogenous tau hyperphosphorylation, and decreased phosphorylated neurofilament H immunostaining, they wrote.

In sum, the results indicated that antibody-mediated TREM2-targeting therapies might be effective for treating Alzheimers disease, but the researchers say that more work is needed before they can be brought to the clinic.

[W]e demonstrated the feasibility of engineering multivalent TREM2 agonistic antibodies coupled with TfR-mediated brain delivery to enhance microglia functions and reduce amyloid pathology in vitro and in vivo, said Zhang. This antibody engineering approach enables the development of effective TREM2-targeting therapies for AD.

Read the original here:
Engineered Antibody Shows Therapeutic Effects in Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Mixing superheroes and science is always a great recipe. The Imperfects is a show that has its heart in the right place, and one can tell they tried. Seriously, this show has everything, right from great world-building to detailed backstories and characters with complete personalities. It is also a show that really respects and encourages the audiences intelligence. But at the end of it, it just lacks grit and that zing, which is necessary for something to be interesting. The Imperfects Season 1 follows three people: Abbi, Tilda, and Juan, who set out to find the cure for their supernatural abilities, which they gained due to an experimental program in their childhood. Let us take a look at how this unfolds.

Spoilers Ahead

Lets start with the origin of our protagonists superpowers. In the words of Dr. Alex Sarkov, the interaction between the human genome and environmental factors is leading to Acute Genetic Decay Syndrome, aka AGDC. It was first discovered by Dr. Sydney Burke and later proved by him. To combat that, the test subjects are injected with artificial stem cells, which basically edit the damage caused by AGDS, and the side effects of that are superpowers.The projected reason for this is that human evolution has not adapted to climate change at the rate it should have because the change itself has been accelerated due to the industrialization of the last two centuries. The rate of progress cannot be reversed or stalled, even at risk to life. To protect humans from themselves, Sarkov must continue with his experiments.

In the present day, Tilda is the lead singer of a music band. Her superpower is being able to hear every sound from miles away and having a voice that can break things. Abbi is a top-ranking student who is on the verge of getting into Oxford. She can emit pheromones that cause anyone who smells them to be hopelessly attracted to her. Finally, Juan is a comic book artist who can turn into a werewolf. His girlfriend, Darcy, who later discovers this about him, apparently has a monster fetish, which makes for one of the better jokes of that episode. The three of them have been taking pills for years to subdue these effects, but when they run out of them and new ones arent coming, they show up at Sarkovs clinic, where they meet Dr. Burke. She tells them that the pills are not going to be of any use to them and that they must find a cure. This is the beginning of their mission to find Sarkov, who has gone missing.

On their quest to find him, they meet other test subjects. One of them is Doug, who heals at a rapid rate and is pretty much indestructible. But the pain of every injury he has ever had stays with him forever. He tells the group that they will find everything they want in the scientists lab. Another person they meet is a guy whose skin is impenetrable. With him, The Imperfects Season 1 explores the possible issue of self-esteem that superheroes deal with. Thinking about it, thats why we love the heroesbecause they save the world by fixing everything that is wrong with it. Without their powers, they would be just another person that nobody would give a second look to. It reminds us of when Tony Stark says that if you are nothing without your suit, you shouldnt have it. Everyone wants power, and everyone wants to be special. Thats why when these three set out to build a normal life for themselves, there are people who want to use them for their own benefit. One of them is a team of bio-hackers, as they like to call themselves. They had initially run into Maxwell Schifrin, one of the test subjects, who had started developing gills and told them about the experiments. They lure our group into captivity to conduct further tests on them, but the three manage to escape, killing them in the process, albeit not completely intentionally. But the very next problem they encounter is far more serious and difficult to tackleit is the government itself, which is hot on their tracks.

Abbi, Tilda, and Juan manage to find Sarkov. Turns out, he was just trying to find a cure for the situation. A number of other events take place as well. It turns out that Dr. Burke has an alter ego called Isabel Finch. Its a very Jekyll and Hyde situation that reveals that even Burke has AGDS. Her attempts to treat herself have resulted in the creation of Isabel Finch and when she transforms, even her physical appearance changes. Finch hates everyone in Burkes field and is on a mission to kill them, one by one. There is also some personal drama, mostly to involve the audience in the protagonists lives. Like the constant flirtation between Juan and Tilda, the relationship between Abbi and Hannah and Tildas friends pushes her out of the band. The biggest shocker for her is probably when her boyfriend is killed by an attack from a rogue scientist who has transformed into the imperfects. Coming back to the aforementioned governments interest in the group, a secret organization called Flux is monitoring their activities and wants to find them for their own purposes.

It is no secret that Sarkov conducts the entire operation with an utter disregard for human life yet carries a sense of the savior complex with him. Through the flashbacks, we understand that he is a bit of a mad genius whose parents died when he was 2 years old, and he has grown up at the university since he was 5. Sydney has been his only friend, and science has been his sole purpose. And even she has a sketchy moral compass. After the failure of his idea to use nanobots due to Tilda, he discovers that there is another way that the cure can be spread. Finch knows it, and she agrees to let Sarkov have it if he can successfully subdue Sydney. Reckless of others as always, he agrees, and Juan is his test subject. He decides to see if he can turn him into a Chupacabra permanently and injects him with the cure when he is in his transformed state, strapped to the bed. But as fate would have it, this is the way to the cure, and Juan looks healed. Tilda and Abbi, who have reached there, dont waste time and immediately inject Finch, bringing Sydney back to the surface. Abbi goes on to take the cure, and so do the others in the wellness program, except Tilda. She keeps hers as a way of helping others like her.

As for Sarkov, his end in the current storyline is a little less than graceful. Under the influence of Abbis pheromones, he confessed that he had received his funding from Helix, which turned out to be a shell company. Also, Dominique Crain had underwritten multiple rogue scientists, which kept Flux going and created a lot of monsters. This brings us to the last 15 minutes of the finale that set the stage for the next season. Sarkov is taken into custody by Flux, and they even hire Sydney for the next stage of their renewed operations. But they still need Sarkov for his genius. Sydney negotiates with him to help set things straight in exchange for immunity for his actions. During this, Sarkov realizes that Finch is in control of Burkes body. When he is being taken away, she gets a call from Dr. Halenbeck, and this is the biggest surprise of all, as well as the possible explanation of Sarkovs God complex. He is a genetically engineered person who was created for the sole purpose of science. But he had turned out to be surprisingly human and unruly, with ambitions of his own, which had disrupted his creators plans entirely. Dr. Halenbeck doesnt seem to be aware that he is talking to Finch and not Sydney. She promises him that she will find a solution to the problem with the help of Sarkov. What the problem is, remains to be seen. And lets make a note of the fact that Sarkovs entire savior mentality is centered around how he doesnt mind the sacrifice of a few for the greater good. He simply wants to eradicate disease and hunger with science but disregards the importance of the role of emotional intelligence required in the process. We believe there is hope for his redemption, and we just want to see how that happens.

We saw that of our trio, Tilda was the only one who was able to master her powers. For Juan and Abbi, the cure backfires. Juan starts turning into the Chupacabra once more, and Abbi is rendered helpless by the goo that spreads to the walls and traps her inside. Everyone who has taken the cure is turning into a monster, which means that Sarkovs cure has either backfired, or was successfully weaponized by Flux. But looking at how Finch and Burke have come together to be one person, it is probably possible that the affected test subjects can lead a normal life by learning to harness their powers. This is a discussion for The Imperfects Season 2.

When it comes to the show, its premise of genetic engineering is something new and has great potential. But it just doesnt hit. It tries to be funny, but the humor is not really believable. It breaks our hearts that we are unable to like The Imperfects as much as we want to because there is a genuine attempt to make something good here. It has just not landed as well as it could have. And while all the characters were well fleshed out, only Tilda and Sarkov brought a uniqueness to them, even though the latter seemed constantly confused with his accent. We will give the second season of The Imperfects a chance, in the hopes that it will pick up the pace. The pace better be great because the second chance is purely out of respect for the attempt that was made. We are keeping our fingers crossed for whenever that happens.

The Imperfects is a 2022 Drama Action series streaming on Netflix.

More:
'The Imperfects' Ending, Explained - Do Abbi, Tilda, & Juan Find The Cure? What To Expect From Season 2? | DMT - DMT

Preventing serious negative effects

The research team then examined the ancient stool samples gathered from various locations and compared them with contemporary samples received from people with whipworms from around the world. This provided them an insight into the evolution of the worm over ten-thousands of years.

"Unsurprisingly, we can see that the whipworm appears to have spread from Africa to the rest of the world along with humans about 55,000 years ago, following the so-called 'out of Africa' hypothesis on human migration," stated Kapel.

As mentioned above, a whipworm infection can have a beneficial impact on a healthy host. When it comes to severe infections, on the other hand, it can lead to dysentery, anemia, and rectal prolapse, and in children, it can impede healthy growth.

The researchers believe that this new research could help develop new ways to prevent such effects.

The findings have been published in the journal Nature Communications.

Abstract:

The neglected tropical disease trichuriasis is caused by the whipworm Trichuris trichiura, a soil-transmitted helminth that has infected humans for millennia. Today, T. trichiura infects as many as 500 million people, predominantly in communities with poor sanitary infrastructure enabling sustained faecal-oral transmission. Using whole-genome sequencing of geographically distributed worms collected from human and other primate hosts, together with ancient samples preserved in archaeologically-defined latrines and deposits dated up to one thousand years old, we present the first population genomics study of T. trichiura. We describe the continent-scale genetic structure between whipworms infecting humans and baboons relative to those infecting other primates. Admixture and population demographic analyses support a stepwise distribution of genetic variation that is highest in Uganda, consistent with an African origin and subsequent translocation with human migration. Finally, genome-wide analyses between human samples and between human and non-human primate samples reveal local regions of genetic differentiation between geographically distinct populations. These data provide insight into zoonotic reservoirs of human-infective T. trichiura and will support future efforts toward the implementation of genomic epidemiology of this globally important helminth.

Visit link:
Ancient Viking poop helped scientists map the genetics of a 5000-year-old parasite - Interesting Engineering

Find was published in one of the world's most prestigious scientific journals

By WAM

Published: Sat 10 Sep 2022, 3:26 PM

Last updated: Sat 10 Sep 2022, 4:25 PM

A team of researchers from UAE University (UAEU) succeeded in discovering an unknown type of crustacean, "Diplostraca", of microorganisms in the animal kingdom in Arabian Peninsula within the group of common species.

The team from the university's Department of Biology at the College of Science in cooperation with several researchers and international centers in Russia,

The research was published among the most prestigious scientific journals in the world, led by Professor Waleed Hamza - from the Department of Biology at the College of Science at the UAE University, in collaboration with Professor Alex Kotov, and researcher Anna Nertina from the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution in Russia, Dr Khaled Amiri - Director of Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, researchers from the Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters, at the Russian Academy of Sciences, and a master's student from the Department of Biology, and Shamma Al Neyadi, who spent 21 days at the Russian Institute to perfect her drawings using the most advanced camera Lucida.

Professor Waleed Hamza (Principal investigator)- from the Department of Biology at UAE University, said: "I believe that the discovery of new species that grew in temporary bodies of fresh water, will open the door for many researchers to explore different environments not only in the United Arab Emirates, but in the Arabian Peninsula.

"The region still has a lot to discover, in fact, expanding our research field and cooperating with world-class institutes will positively enhance our research capabilities especially when UAE young researchers participate, which will lead to building national capacities capable of exploring the resources in their land."

He added: "The importance of this scientific discovery comes in increasing the biodiversity list of living organisms, especially in the United Arab Emirates. This increases the value of preserving wetland ecosystems as a vital resource that preserves the Earth's environment and living creatures."

Researchers have found a new species of microorganism in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. This discovery allows to solve some problems related to the history of these daphnids in the northern hemisphere and to follow the dispersal of these microorganisms across North Africa and the Middle East. The team studied the patterns of the distribution of biodiversity and the history of its formation in continental waters. The most scientific publications about this genus are related to the sub-genus while no similar study has been done, for microorganisms that live mainly in temporary water bodies.

Professor Waleed Hamza, pointed out, "We succeeded in reaching the identity of the organism, identified as a new species and named it "Daphnia arabica sp. nov," to refer to its presence in the Arabian Peninsula" and to distinguish it from other species, belonging to another group, which live mainly in temporary bodies of fresh water. The researchers collected a core sample of dry sediment behind the Shuwaib Dam (Al Ain City) in March 2018.

ALSO READ:

The sediment was immersed in drinking water for three weeks, the sediment-encapsulated eggs hatched, and disintegrated organisms were isolated and grown in the Marine Biology Lab at the College of Science at the United Arab Emirates University, with the help of the Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology and the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. The isolated organisms deeply underwent microscopic morphometric, molecular (DNA), and further genomic and morphologic analyses using the modern "camera lucida".

Originally posted here:
UAE University researchers discover new type of freshwater crustacean - Khaleej Times

Synlogic, Inc.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Synlogic, Inc. (Nasdaq: SYBX), a clinical stage company bringing the transformative potential of synthetic biology to medicine, announced today that it has received a milestone payment for the achievement of prespecified success criteria under the research collaboration agreement with Roche for the discovery of a novel Synthetic Biotic for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Under the terms of the agreement, Synlogic and Roche will collaborate to develop a Synthetic Biotic addressing an undisclosed novel target in IBD. At the conclusion of the research period, Roche will have the exclusive option to enter a licensing and collaboration agreement for further development and commercialization of the program.

Learn more aboutSynlogicsprograms and pipeline by visitinghttps://www.synlogictx.com/.

About SynlogicSynlogicis a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing medicines through its proprietary approach to synthetic biology. Synlogics pipeline includes its lead program in phenylketonuria (PKU), which has demonstrated proof of concept with plans to start a pivotal, Phase 3 study in the first half of 2023, and additional novel drug candidates designed to treat homocystinuria (HCU), enteric hyperoxaluria and gout. The rapid advancement of these potential biotherapeutics, called Synthetic Biotics, has been enabled by Synlogics reproducible, target-specific drug design.Synlogicuses programmable, precision genetic engineering of well-characterized probiotics to exert localized activity for therapeutic benefit, with a focus on metabolic and immunologic diseases. In addition to its clinical programs,Synlogichas a research collaboration with Roche on the discovery of a novel Synthetic Biotic for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.Synlogichas also developed two drug candidates through a research collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks: SYNB1353, designed to consume methionine for the potential treatment of HCU, and SYNB2081, designed to lower uric acid for the potential treatment of gout. For additional information visit http://www.synlogictx.com.

Story continues

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains "forward-looking statements" that involve substantial risks and uncertainties for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding strategy, future operations, clinical development plans, future financial position, future revenue, projected expenses, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. In addition, when or if used in this press release, the words "may," "could," "should," "anticipate," "believe," look forward, "estimate," "expect," "intend," on track, "plan," "predict" and similar expressions and their variants, as they relate toSynlogic, may identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential ofSynlogicsapproach to Synthetic Biotics to develop therapeutics to address a wide range of diseases including: inborn errors of metabolism and inflammatory and immune disorders; our expectations about sufficiency of our existing cash balance; the future clinical development of Synthetic Biotics; the approachSynlogicis taking to discover and develop novel therapeutics using synthetic biology; and the expected timing ofSynlogicsclinical trials of SYNB1618, SYNB1934, SYNB1353 and SYNB8802 and availability of clinical trial data. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including: the uncertainties inherent in the clinical and preclinical development process; the ability ofSynlogicto protect its intellectual property rights; and legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments, as well as those risks identified under the heading "Risk Factors" inSynlogicsfilings with theSEC. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflectSynlogicscurrent views with respect to future events.Synlogicanticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, whileSynlogicmay elect to update these forward-looking statements in the future,Synlogicspecifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representingSynlogicsview as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

Media Contact: Bill BerryBerry & Company Public Relations212-253-8881; bberry@berrypr.com

Investor Contact: Andrew FunderburkKendall Investor Relations617-914-0008; afunderburk@kendallir.com

The rest is here:
Synlogic Achieves Research Milestone in Collaboration with Roche for Development of Novel Synthetic Biotic to Treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Yahoo...

Bishop Garrison is vice president of government affairs and public policy at Paravision.

It is an iron law of progress that any innovation that benefits society also has the potential for harm. We saw it with the train and the automobile. We can already see it with genetic engineering. And now we are seeing it with artificial intelligence.

Every day brings a new report of how artificial intelligence is opening up new opportunities to detect disease and eliminate hunger, to understand the nature of the universe or to combat climate change. Yet darker uses are also emerging, including deepfakes, disinformation and autonomous weapons systems capable of using lethal force without human intervention.

We find ourselves on the doorstep of the next great societal challenge: harnessing the benefits of artificial intelligence while also ensuring it is used ethically and responsibly. It is our responsibility to establish processes and policies now to determine whether AI will be helpful or harmful in the future, and how we will protect against illicit or dangerous use. The problem is manifold: How do we ensure the private sector develops this technology ethically? What do AI ethics even entail? How do we keep social biases from being embedded in and amplified by AI?

These are not rhetorical questions. They represent issues of generational concern that require both great debate and an enormous amount of collaboration between the public and private sectors. Business leaders, academics and public servants must trust one another to smartly and thoughtfully devise these solutions together. No one group will have the answer, and no singular entity will know what is in the best interest of society regarding a technology with potential that rivals and perhaps exceeds any yet developed in human history. We must establish these tools of trust.

The stakes posed by this dilemma our need to get this right make it a formidable but not impossible task. During my time in government, I participated in initiatives that navigated a host of intricately detailed, politically charged and complex problems. We rethought the future of passenger screening at the Department of Homeland Security. We supported efforts to combat sexual assault and sexual harrassment within the ranks at the Department of Defense. And I led a group of dedicated career civil employees and uniformed service members to devise recommendations on countering extremist activity within the U.S. military. I learned that tackling these problems takes an investment in people and as well relationships built on trust.

These were all difficult tasks, on a professional and personal level. They were politically sensitive, divisive and required a whole-of-community approach to develop solutions that addressed the root causes of each problem. These issues are no less complicated, but also no less urgent. Given the projected long-term capabilities of AI, ensuring its ethical use is paramount to the safety and security of the global community.

If we do not come together now to address these challenges, the consequences will be devastating for our nation and societies worldwide. This will take governments at all levels working hand-in-hand with industry, academic, community and policy leaders in a lasting public-private partnership. Determining the proper oversight, regulatory framework and resourcing will be critical to create standards that result in the least harm and the most good while simultaneously ensuring that innovation and creativity in this arena do not become stifled or suffer a chilling effect.

Critics may object to the entire project on the grounds that ethical standards can only make U.S. AI companies less competitive. They may agree with former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who once argued of face recognition, there is no U.S.-China contest; the United States has essentially conceded the race because of concerns over the average individuals privacy, and deep reservations about how this technology could be deployed.

While I greatly respect his experience and acumen, I disagree. The performance of U.S. face recognition companies in recent government benchmarks suggests that principled development is no obstacle to world-class AI performance. Perhaps more to the point, we have never been a country to run from the difficulties associated with solving hard problems or making generational breakthroughs. This is a time of challenge, a time of controversy, and it is our time to be measured.

Make no mistake: Devising a globally accepted set of AI principles and convincing private and public institutions to adopt it will be a heavy lift. But ignoring the challenge is not an option. If we want a future consonant with our values, we need to address this problem now, together, with every asset at our disposal.

Continue reading here:
The world needs an AI code of ethics - Protocol